Don't let the cute nickname fool you. This competition is no better than the Challenge Cup. Basically USFS saying that they don't trust them (yet).
2024-25 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating
- Thread starter BlissfulSynergy
- Start date
The Olympic test event will attract more media attention than something like the Challenge Cup. Whether that will penetrate the US media bubble is a different issue. The US is very inward-looking, and I expect it to become more so with the change in administration.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Shin/ Nagy largely train in Ontario under Bruno Marcotte. They visit the World Arena (WASA) and the Olympic Training Center in Colorado periodically, as they have both trained at WASA and in California previously. Drew Meekins choreographed one of S/N's programs this season, while Julie Marcotte choreographed the other one. Drew Meekins is not currently one of S/N's coaches. He was in the kiss'n cry as their choreographer. U.S. fed is responsible for deciding to send S/N to Canada to be trained by Marcotte.
What do you mean, "the boost"? Shin/Nagy are U.S. fed's full-on backed pairs project. They reportedly told Balazs to drop Chelsea and try out with Audrey when Audrey had expressed a desire to switch to pairs. Chelsea was having a lot of trouble cleanly landing jumps and throws. She had also previously suffered concussions, and her longtime pairs coach, Todd Sand, was clearly not going to be able to come back to coaching. The loss of Todd as a coach is significant at the Irvine rink, although Brandon Frazier and Nate Bartholomay are admirably filling in. I think different adjustments by her coaches were being tried to help Chelsea overcome the jump landing issues. But U.S. fed was impatient for Chelsea & Balazs to become another Alexa/ Brandon immediately!
I do not think enough was done to help Chelsea, so her confidence suffered. I truly miss her and Balazs's gorgeous, effortless, amazing triple twist.While Audrey & Balazs are physically well-matched and all the stops are being pulled out to bring Audrey along as a pairs girl in ways that weren't done for Chelsea, right now IMHO, Audrey/Balazs are still working on forging and projecting an emotional connection. Chelsea/ Balazs had a fun, comfortable sexy vibe right out of the gates. Audrey is 8 years younger and she seems younger in how she comes off in interviews. Per their IGs, Audrey apparently dates singles skater, Kai Kovar. I was thinking how it would have been interesting if they had both switched to pairs together. Kai is very tall and looks like he could be a good pairs guy with dedicated training.
Another thing to look out for with Audrey is her tendency to UR her jumps, which U.S. judges completely overlooked in the scoring. International judges will not be as forgiving. All-in-all, Shin/Nagy are certainly being fully groomed and backed by U.S. fed. And they definitely seem promising. Kam/O'Shea have been highly supported as well, and have proven how stellar they can be if Ellie can master the jump landings and if they can learn to perform well under high pressure. Doing so is tough for every team. In any case, the other U.S. teams obviously will have to fend for themselves and prove their worth.
Honestly, right now, I don't feel any full-on rizz or magic from Shin/Nagy yet. I am more entranced by Efimova/ Mitrofanov, Kam/ O'Shea, and McBeath/ Parkman. Of the other teams, I truly enjoy Digerness/ Sadusky. I think they should have placed higher. They need more competitive opportunities in order to grow their wonderful partnership. They have such lovely programs this year!
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- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
LOL! Yes. M/P did not perform great on the GP. But let's face it. They are a new, promising partnership, and they need competitive opportunities before they can improve together and show just how good they can be with the right music and programs. This sport is not conducive to developing athletic talent! The competitive structure sucks! And sadly, there are no signs of this lack of competitive opportunities changing. So we end up with this juggling and favoritism politics. Skaters have to grab their chances with all their might and hold on tight, just as Alisa/Misha demonstrated in the U.S. pairs competition. They would NOT be denied. Kudos to them!
We have also witnessed how good McBeath/ Parkman can be. But what chances are they gonna receive to get better? The entire sport is operated so poorly for the growth and advancement of athletes. Only the lucky few who make it to the top by a combo of talent, lucky breaks, and political favor have the chance to consistently hone their skills in the arena.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
However, her problem jumps tended to be lutz, flip, and the back end triple of a combo, and she doesn't need those anymore.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
NBC only put up Kam/O'Shea's SP and Efimova/Mitrofanov's FS, and I bet they're geoblocked, nor do I have any idea how long NBC will keep them up.
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- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com
Are we OK with posting or accessing VK video links from Russia? Because if so, the whole event from all disciplines from Peacock is up there...
Peacock stream
2025 US Nationals Pairs Short Program:
https://vkvideo.ru/video-217808619_456243112
2025 US Nationals Pairs Free Skate (audio is different for a little bit, but it corrects afterward):
https://vkvideo.ru/video-217808619_456243128
If you look through the user's other videos, you can see all the other disciplines too. In fact, you can even watch the Australian Open tennis finals, lol.
2025 US Nationals Pairs Short Program:
https://vkvideo.ru/video-217808619_456243112
2025 US Nationals Pairs Free Skate (audio is different for a little bit, but it corrects afterward):
https://vkvideo.ru/video-217808619_456243128
If you look through the user's other videos, you can see all the other disciplines too. In fact, you can even watch the Australian Open tennis finals, lol.
Thanks so much I can see the Russian links not the other one it was geo blocked. How do I access the others. Mainly dance and ladies
Definitely geoblocked. Boo thank you!NBC only put up Kam/O'Shea's SP and Efimova/Mitrofanov's FS, and I bet they're geoblocked, nor do I have any idea how long NBC will keep them up.
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
This channel, under the playlists, is a life saver so far: https://www.youtube.com/@figureskating2277/playlists
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Yeah, I have not closely examined what Audrey's problem jumps have been re the UR tendency. I don't look that closely, especially not during a performance. Still, I checked back to view Nationals performances again. That's when I noticed the tight landings and slight squirrely boot action on some of Audrey's landings. As I said, international judges will not be as forgiving as domestic judges.
Albeit Shin/Nagy had decent results at Golden Spin. To my eyes, they even look a bit smoother and more connected emotionally at U.S. Nationals than they did at GS, their debut international comp.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
They were much better at Nationals than they were at Golden Spin. I've watched the Golden Spin FS several times, mostly to see the spots where they could easily make up the .60 they need to get their Worlds' CTES minimums.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
I'm a bit wary of clicking on some foreign links. Do you think they're safe and not have um viruses and other junk on them?
If they're okay I'm very eager to use them.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
The Olympic Test Event for almost any sport would not penetrate the US media complex at any time.
I remember watching the gymnastics test event in Rio - I had to search desperately to find a link somewhere. I'm not even sure the one I found was an English broadcast - it's been a while.
The political environment really has nothing to do with it.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2022
An Israeli friend who formerly skated in Russia often forwards to me Russian videos that her mother sends her. Never had any virus etc problems with them, nor has my friend in Israel.
I did and seems good. How can we know though. I see some have posted on YouTube now. Hopefully they stay up?
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2012
I did, one evening and night it worked very well, the second evening I tried it, it didn't - buffering, stuttering, total black outs, etc. No virus stuff though. I don't like using illegal links, but when there is no way to watch an important competition legally (as Skate Canada provides for year after year) even if you are willing to pay some money - not 30 quid for one Challenger but a reasonable amount of money - I use the probably illegal ones. I do like to watch!
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
They’re getting married?
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